Coin Terminology and Glossary

The Coin Collecting Dictionary includes 546 titles used widely in the coin collectors community, and has received over 1086689 search inquires.

Selected title: First Strike
Explanation: An unofficial term referring to a coin struck shortly after a new die is put into use. Such coins often have prooffike surfaces and resemble proof, in certain (but not all) characteristics. Resurfaced previously-used dies sometimes also have these characteristics
Explanation: A grading service term used by PCGS, NGC, and other grading services. It indicates the coin was in one of the first groups of coins shipped by the US mint. PCGS and NGC will seal the coin in their "First Strike" plastic slab holder with the words " First Strike" inside the PCGS holder

Most popular coin titles

DefinitionSearchesPercentage
Specimen Proof (SP-70 or PF-70) 55768  13.42%
Silver Clad 32683  7.87%
Coin Silver 24751  5.96%
Slabbed Coins 23660  5.69%
BN 23259  5.60%
Encapsulated Coin 22200  5.34%
RB 21679  5.22%
Deep Cameo (DC or DCAM) 18662  4.49%
PF (PF60, PF70) 18649  4.49%
Reeded Edge 17490  4.21%
Ultra Cameo (UCAM) 17310  4.17%
PR (PR60, PR70) 16560  3.99%
Rarity 16488  3.97%
PQ 16237  3.91%
MS (MS60-MS70) 15955  3.84%
Incuse 15250  3.67%
Coin drop 15072  3.63%
High Relief 14898  3.59%
Reverse Cameo 14618  3.52%
Obverse or Face side 14314  3.44%